Union demands new Chargers doctor

NEW ORLEANS  The association that represents NFL players on Thursday released a survey showing wide dissatisfaction with medical care in the league, and singled out San Diego Chargers doctor David Chao as a problem.

The survey showed 93 percent of players are either not satisfied — or not at all satisfied — with their team’s injury management. It showed 78 percent of players don’t trust their team’s medical staff, although they had more confidence in trainers.

“There is a team doctor named Dr. Chao who is currently the San Diego team doctor,” Smith said, “who has been found liable of medical malpractice twice — twice... It seems to me that the players of the National Football League deserve to have a doctor who’s not been found liable of malpractice.”

Chao declined to comment. A team spokesman said the Chargers are still gathering information about what was said. Previously, the team has said it’s aware of Chao’s legal and regulatory history but believes him to be a highly skilled orthopedic surgeon.

Injured NFL players are allowed to seek second opinions or treatment from alternative doctors, and many Chargers have chosen Chao for their orthopedic surgeon.

In August, Ryan Mathews broke his right clavicle and had Chao perform the surgery. The running back recovered and returned to the field a month later, missing two regular-season games. In December, when Mathews broke his left clavicle, he chose Chao for his surgery again.

Chao scoped quarterback Philip Rivers’ knee in 2008 less than a week before the AFC Conference Championship Game. He repaired Rivers’ torn ACL that offseason.

Center Nick Hardwick underwent ankle surgery with Chao in 2009 and was able to return later that season.

“I’ve had four of five surgeries with Dr. Chao. He’s consulted on three or four others that I’ve had,” Hardwick said. “I completely trust him. He’s done a great job for me. He’s done a great job for my career, getting me on the field, keeping me on the field where I want to be. He’s been a very important part of the success I’ve had.”

Former long snapper David Binn played with the Chargers from 1994 to 2010 and told U-T San Diego on Thursday that it was “always a good experience” working with Chao, who surgically repaired his shoulder one offseason.

“Anytime I’ve had an issue,” Binn said, “he gives you a straightforward assessment of what’s going on and lays out your options. I always felt that I trusted him. He gave me all the information, and in the end, it’s always up to the player to decide if he can go or if he can’t.

“I always felt like he had the health of the player as his primary concern. He definitely has the trust of other guys. Pretty much everybody gets everything done by him on the Chargers.”

Still, George Attalah, the player association’s assistant executive director of external affairs, said the union has formally requested the league find a suitable replacement for Chao.

“He has a clear track record of misconduct,” association President Domonique Foxworth said. “It’s unfortunate for the guys who play there. It’s something that we can’t control, but we can definitely put pressure to improve.”

A league spokesman did not immediately return an email seeking comment. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will hold a pre-scheduled news conference this morning. He is expected to address the union’s comments then.

In 2010, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration investigated prescribing practices for when the Chargers are on the road, as part of a nationwide review. The matter closed last year after new systems were established and record-keeping was found to be in compliance.

In 2011, Chao was found negligent from a May 2007 surgery on a woman’s hip. An arbitration panel awarded her $2.2 million in damages.

In May 2012, Chao was reprimanded by the medical board for failing to disclose a drunken-driving conviction when applying for a state license. The board did not restrict his license.

In July 2012, a San Diego Superior Court jury ordered Chao to pay $500,000 to a woman who suffered serious injuries from frostbite. Chao’s lawyer, Bob Frank, has said that the woman’s surgery was successful and that she returned to full function of her knee.